by Simone Elise
“You’re cocky this morning.” Reaper tilted his head to the side, his black orbs studying me with intensely. “You’re not… your normal self.”
“Since when did you know my normal self, Viking?” I snapped. The last thing I needed was him figuring it out and then going all biker scary on my arse. “Look, if you come this weekend, great. If you don’t, fine.” I huffed, and turned my back and started to zip up Abby’s pack.
I froze when his hand fell on my shoulder. Oh god… oh god… He slowly turned me around.
“Do you want me to come?” His voice had no edge to it. The honesty behind his words made me lose my voice.
Did Abby want him to come? Oh fuck, why did I push this matter? “Um … well … I …” Why the fuck did he have to be looking at me like that?
His hand slowly traced down my bare shoulder, stopping just above my wrist. His head dipped lower, those eyes wiping away any common sense. “Abby, do you want me to come?”
This never happened to me. I swallowed sharply. “I wouldn’t want… I mean I…” My answer was cut quickly when he spun me around, pinning my arm behind my back. “WHAT THE FUCK, REAPER!”
“Tell Abby when she comes back from wherever the fuck she is, Kim, that I want to speak to her, got it?” he hissed in my ear.
Perhaps he really had a thing for Abby to be able to tell the difference. With my free hand, I punched him in the leg, which caused him to let go of me.
“Tell her yourself, wanker.” I stumbled backward, gripping the wardrobe door handle and forcing it open.
Abby was standing in the middle, arms crossed with a fierce glare on her face.
“And the bitch shows her face.” Reaper’s pissed-off glare flickered off me and onto her. Thank god for that.
“Kim, why don’t you take our shit to the car. I’ll be down in a minute.” Abby didn’t even take her eyes off him to look at me.
“And leave you with the crazy fucker?” I scoffed. Was she nuts?
“He won’t hurt me.” She sounded very confident about that.
“So you’re actually fucking off back home then?” Reaper’s voice dripped with disgust. “Next you’ll be telling me the shit she was spinning about Brad was real.”
“It was.” Abby’s voice didn’t even flinch with hesitation. “Though I’m not keen on the idea of you coming.”
“Liar,” I muttered under my breath, and she whacked me with her right arm.
“Car, Kim. Now.” She didn’t leave room for argument. I didn’t like being told what to do, but the intense eye contact between the two told me they had a heated conversation to share.
“Fine.” I scooped up her bag and gave her a pointed look. “Make it quick, will ya? It’s a long drive.” I closed the door, and the pair didn’t even wait until I reached the staircase before they started arguing.
I actually felt sorry for Reaper because he didn’t have a hope in hell of winning against Abby, and he and I both knew that. The man was doomed from the beginning because well… he loved her.
Chapter 25
Abby
“So what did you and Reaper talk about?” Kim flashed me a small smile, sitting in the passenger seat. “Or should I say, what did you and Reaper yell about?”
“He just wasn’t impressed with us lying to him.” I kept the details to the minimum. He didn’t believe I would leave; he didn’t believe that I would head home.
To be fair to him, I didn’t think I would go through with it either, but I was.
“Uh uh.” She wasn’t buying it, but she didn’t press the conversation further. “So is he coming or not?”
I doubted he would. “He didn’t say.”
“I reckon he will show up.” Kim had more faith in him than I. “No way he is going to let you spend a whole weekend with horny bikers.”
“KIM!”
“What? It’s true!”
“It doesn’t matter anyway. This weekend is all about Trigger and you, remember?” It’s time we got back to the real reason we were heading home.
I glanced at Kim, and that smirk on her face dropped. “Wonder if he’ll even care.”
“He’ll care.” If there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that he would definitely care that she showed up.
“Glad you seem to think so.” She grumbled and turned her head to look out the side window. “You look better with blonde hair, too.”
My eyes flashed up to the rearview mirror, glancing at my blonde hair. “It feels strange.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“Glad you seem to think so.” I smiled, repeating her words back at her.
She shook her head. “Childish.”
“Says the girl munching on tiny teddies.”
I glanced up at the rearview mirror again, but this time my eyes froze for a minute. “Oh my god.” My mouth dropped open.
“What?” Kim’s interest spiked, and she turned in her seat to look around.
My eyes snapped back to the road. “It’s him, isn’t it?”
Kim turned back around with a mocking expression on her face. “I told you he would come.”
“He’s actually coming,” I muttered aloud.
Reaper was behind us on his motorbike, riding alone. He was coming back. He was coming back wearing the enemy’s colors. This weekend, though, it wouldn’t matter so much.
“Told you. I told you.” Kim gloated. “Looks like your weekend just got a hell of a lot more interesting.”
“And here I was thinking I would be solely focused on paying you back for the stunt back home.” I looked back at Reaper again. How long had he been following us?
“Oh look, a gas station.” Kim pointed. “I need to use the toilet.”
I looked at her, not impressed. “No, you don’t. You just want me to pull over.”
Her lips curled evilly. “Pull in, Abby.”
“Not going to happen.”
“Fine. I’ll pee in your car.”
I was outraged at the thought. “Like fuck you will.” I switched the indicator on. Nerves flooded my body when I saw Reaper also turn off the highway, following us.
Kim clapped with enjoyment when she turned to see if he had. “Great. Now you two get to talk, or yell again.” She smiled smugly.
“I knew you didn’t need to go to the toilet.”
“But I do need tiny teddies.” She held up the empty packet.
I pulled the car to a stop at a service station. It was probably a good idea to top up while we were here. It would save us from stopping again.
“I’ll take my time,” she said over her shoulder before getting out, her eyes alive with amusement at my soon-to-be extremely awkward conversation.
Reaper pulled his bike to a stop behind me and when his engine cut out, I knew I couldn’t prolong getting out of the car any longer.
I closed the car door and nodded my head at him. “Hey.” I kept my sunglasses down, pretending to be cool, calm, and collected when really I was freaking the fuck out.
He climbed off the bike, pulling his helmet off, placing it on the handlebar. “Thought you left hours ago.” He pushed his sunglasses up. “Or are you just a real slow driver?”
I unscrewed the gas cap. “Had to make a stop earlier.” Had he not noticed the blonde hair?
He stood in front of me. His hand grasped mine, taking the pump off me. “Explains the hair.”
“Thought it was time to go back to my roots.” I took a step back while he filled the car for me.
Why did that simple act of kindness make my stomach flutter?
“So you’re… um… coming then?” I scratched my arm, trying to make conversation with him.
He turned to look at me. “Yep.”
Talk about him giving me nothing to build a conversation on. “Didn’t think you would leave, you know, seeing how good you have it with the Vikings.” God, it felt like acid to speak those words. “Good thing this is like a rainbow weekend, you shouldn’t get a bullet in the head for being a trai
tor.”
“Tell me what you really think, Abby.” He grunted, his eyes mocking me. “Don’t hold back.”
I crossed my arms. “What, come on, it’s not like you aren’t going to catch heat. You do realize they are going to give you shit.” I felt like I had to remind him of the obvious.
Maybe I was trying to talk him out of it.
“For someone who doesn't miss shit, you sure as fuck are missing the obvious.”
The gas pump perked back, and he pulled it out, hanging it back up. What the hell was he getting at?
“Hi, Reaper.” Kim appeared beside the car, Tiny Teddies in hand of course. “Where’s ya cut?”
I looked back at Reaper, my mouth falling open. Where the hell was his Vikings leather vest? “Have you like left them?” My words rushed out, barely making sense.
“You aren’t the only one going back to their roots, Abby.” He hung the pump up. “See ya back at home.”
Home. He was going home. My eyes widened in size, grabbing his arm in a rushed decision. “You’re joining them again, aren’t you?”
His cold eyes glanced between my hand and back at me. “Called ya old man, we talked it through.”
“But that means, after this weekend, you won’t be coming back.”
“Yeah, as of Monday, it will just be Drake and you.”
That didn’t sound pleasing. “Kind of gotten used to you being around.”
The corner of his lip twitched, “Better get back on the road, Abby; it will be dark before we get there.”
I wished he was in the car with me. God, I hated admitting that. Why did I have such a never-dying attraction towards him?
“Right,” I nodded my head. I opened my door, ready to climb in. “Um, feel free to pass me. I can be a slow driver.”
He straddled his bike. “Defeats the purpose of making sure you get there safely, doesn’t it?” He gave me a half smile.
Tilting my head to the side, “Thought you didn’t expect me to be on the road?”
He gave me a wink and before I could question him further, Kim was yelling for me to hurry up. I gave him a wave and got in.
“So lover boy has been stalking us,” Kim smirked across at me. “Told you he has a thing for you.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I turned the engine on. “Oh fuck!”
“What?”
I laughed at my own stupidity. “Nearly forgot to pay.” I clicked the car off and searched for my wallet. Only Reaper could make me forget to pay for gas. That man really fucked my head up and admittedly, I loved it.
Chapter 26
Abby
Life is only as simple as you make it. I really had no one else to blame but myself for having such a screwed-up, complicated love life. I took comfort in knowing that I wasn’t the only one. Kim had gone a nice shade of white as soon as we parked within the compound.
“You ready?” I asked her, placing a hand on the door.
She slowly nodded her head. “Sure. Let’s get this over with.”
She may fear seeing Trigger, but her fear was nothing compared to that which I currently had of seeing Dad. My mind wandered to our last conversation and just how rude I had been to him. I suppose the good thing about turning up now was that there were people everywhere. We rather blended into the background.
“Where’s Reaper?” Kim walked around the car door to face me. “Thought he was meant to be keeping an eye on us.”
“Don’t know.”
“Did he follow us in?”
I walked around a couple. “He overtook us before we got off the highway. Guess he got sick of my slow driving.”
Kim’s lips twitched into a smirk. “So you admit you are a slow driver.”
I rolled my eyes. What was it with people picking on my driving skills? “Just because I like doing the speed limit, doesn’t make me a bad driver.”
“No, it just makes you a slow one.” She laughed.
Reaper
“I heard you were coming back,” Trigger handed me a cold beer. “I thought Roach was talking shit about it, though.”
I unscrewed the top, “Thought it was time to come home.”
“Rumor on the street said you joined another crew.” Gitz shot me a look from behind the barbecue grill. “Heard you were in deep shit with your brother, too.”
“Heard your missus married another man.” My temper crept up. “Guess shit happens, right?” If they wanted to bring up the past, I could give them back just as much shit.
“Point taken, brother.” He gave me a tight smile.
“You coming back to this charter or heading back east?” Trigger wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “We could use another man at the table.”
My head snapped in the direction of loud laughter. Immediately, my stomach swirled with jealousy mixed with pure rage.
Abby and Kim looked like every biker’s wet dream. They could barely be told apart now, especially since Abby was not top heavy anymore. It didn’t help that they both were wearing the same tight pair of black shorts. It seemed the two of them had decided it was a fantastic idea to wear the same thing; they were both wearing a tight Satan’s Sons white tank top as well.
“Is that Abby and Kim?” Gitz stepped away from the barbecue. “Fucking oath it is.” With a large grin, he made his way over to them.
“The meat’s going to fucking burn!” Trigger roared after him.
I couldn’t see Abby’s eyes through her large, black-framed sunglasses, but I could tell she was looking my way. The fact that her eyes were hidden did make it harder to tell the difference between her and Kim, but the metal cross around her neck confirmed it was Abby I was staring at.
I dropped the empty bottle into the trash can and watched Gitz engulf Abby in a hug, pulling her off the ground.
“Why are they here?” Trigger’s voice hardened. “Roach didn’t mention it.”
Trigger still had a hard-on for Kim, even after all this time. “Maybe that’s the point.”
“Surprise visit for the old man?” Trigger cocked me a look. “Like fuck.”
Gitz was still busy flirting his arse off with them. “What other reason do they have for showing up?” I pulled a cigarette out. “Something playing on your mind, brother?”
“Nothing worth speaking of.” He grumbled, not taking his eyes off them for a moment.
Nerves flooded my body as I watched Abby and Kim walk towards me with Gitz.
Abby scrunched her nose up, “Um, your sausages are on fire.” She pointed behind us.
Fuck.
I took a step back while Gitz threw water on it. A strong stench soon filled the air.
“There goes lunch.” Trigger glared at Gitz. “Told ya it would burn.”
“No harm was done.” Kim spoke up. “Kim likes black sausages.”
Why was she talking about herself? Abby’s arms were tightly crossed across her chest. Her head snapped in Kim’s direction.
No. I was positive that… that was Abby. I had watched that arse walk away too many times to not know it was her.
“Is that right, Abby?” Abby spoke to her sister.
Kim pushed her sunglasses up. “Yep.”
They were swapping again. Nothing pissed me off more than watching the two of them fuck with everyone’s heads. Especially mine.
Abby pulled her sunglasses off and held them up. Her eyes locked with mine, and I was right; it was definitely Abby. “You boys been busy?” She looked between Trigger and me. “Or are you just hitting the bottle?”
“Just rode in.” I kept my voice neutral. “You both here for the full weekend?”
Abby’s eyes drifted across to Trigger’s. “Depends on a few things.”
I didn’t like the way Trigger looked back at her, and I really didn’t like the way his fists were clenched.
“Your old man know you two are back yet?” Trigger didn’t harness his anger. “Or just planning on showing up, screwing the men, pissing off your old man, and leaving again?”
; Kim laughed, “Oh calm down, Trigger. We only came to have some fun.” Seemed as if she liked being her sister more than being herself.
“Let’s go get a drink, Kim.” Kim grabbed Abby’s arm. “We’re standing out… not having one.”
I reached out and grabbed Abby’s other arm. “I need a word first.” My eyes flickered to Kim. “This will only take a minute.”
“Seeing as you asked so nicely.” Abby snaked her arm out of my grip. “I’ll meet you at the bar.”
Trigger glared holes in the back of our heads as I walked Abby across the lot. Once we were out of earshot and we turned the corner of the house, I was quick to get to the point.
“What the fuck was that?”
Her velvet eyes of seduction stared back at me, “Kim didn’t want to speak to him.”
“So all weekend you two are going to be playing fucking games?”
“No.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I came here for her. Shit is complicated, but what I really don’t get is why you care so much.” Abby placed a hand on my chest.
Somehow, we had managed to get close. I hadn’t even realized it.
“You’re trying to get in with my dad again, so I’m guessing you are going to want to put as much distance between us as possible.” She pushed me backward slightly. “Two days and that is it; then I’ll be out of your way.”
I didn’t want her out of my way. She just didn’t get it. It didn’t matter where she was or how close she was; she would always be in my way.
“Trigger’s got a temper. What if he snaps when you’re pretending to be your fucking sister? You could get hurt, Abby, and I am not going to let that happen.”
“I don’t need a bodyguard, Reaper,” she mocked, rolling her eyes. “You worry too much.”
My eyes narrowed, “Clearly you don’t worry enough.”
“If I didn’t know any better,” her eyes flickered across my face, “I would think you were jealous.”
My jaw tightened. “You’re clearly just as stupid as you were when you were sixteen.”
“Oh,” she laughed bitterly, “you mean when I fell head over fucking heels for a no-good biker?”
“Head over heels?”